Atrocities Quote by Judith Lewis Herman
“The ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness. Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud: this is the meaning of the word unspeakable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Trauma and Recovery by Judith Lewis Herman, 1992
Society often suppresses awareness of extreme violations, labeling them as unspeakable, which prevents confronting and healing from them.
In simple terms: People hide terrible events, calling them unspeakable, to avoid confronting them.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and name painful truths.
Themes
memory
trauma
social justice
silence
healing
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal trials
- truth commissions
- education curricula
- media reporting
Key Concepts
psychology
collective denial
ethical responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling something unspeakable affect collective memory?
- What steps can break the silence around atrocities?
A Different Perspective
Denial can hinder justice and may be reinforced by cultural taboos.
![“[In the case of] dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states, who are parties thereto, have the right, and are duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a51/james-madison-373_arresting_in-the-case-of-dangerous-exercise-of-oth_63920.jpg)
